Guide · Sewage
Sewer backup in your basement: cleanup, responsibility and coverage in Iowa
A sewer backup is a contamination problem first and a water problem second. Here's how to stay safe, figure out whose pipe failed, and what insurance usually does and doesn't pay.
Right now
- Stop using water. No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Every drain in the house empties to the same line.
- Keep people and pets out. Sewage carries bacteria and viruses. Children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system should stay away entirely.
- Watch the electricity. If water is near outlets, cords or the panel, have the utility cut power before anyone goes in.
- Ventilate if it's safe. Open windows. Don't run the furnace or central air if its return vents are in the affected area.
- Document it. Photos of the drain or fixture where it came up, the water line on walls, and damaged belongings.
Is it the city's sewer or yours?
The pipe that runs from your house to the public sewer main is called the lateral. In many Iowa communities the property owner is responsible for the lateral, sometimes all the way to the main in the street. Rules differ by city, so call your sewer utility or public works department.
- Signs it's the main: neighbors have backups too, it happened during heavy rain, or water rises in your lowest drain even when you're not using water.
- Signs it's your lateral: only your house is affected, drains have been slow for weeks, or it backs up when you run the washer or shower.
Older parts of many Iowa cities have combined sewers that carry both storm water and sewage, which is why backups often follow downpours. Ask your city's sewer or public works department whether it has a backup or backwater valve program before you pay for cleanup, and report the backup to them either way.
Cleanup: what can be saved
Under the IICRC S500 standard, sewage is Category 3 water. In practice:
- Carpet, padding, upholstered furniture, mattresses, and drywall and insulation that the water reached are generally removed and thrown away.
- Hard, nonporous items like metal, glass and sealed tile can usually be cleaned and disinfected.
- Wood framing and concrete are cleaned, treated and dried, then checked with a moisture meter before anything is closed up.
Small backups confined to a concrete floor may be manageable with gloves, boots, eye protection, and disinfectant. Anything that reached finished space or porous materials is a job for a crew with protective equipment.
Insurance: the endorsement question
Standard homeowners policies usually exclude water that backs up through sewers or drains. Coverage comes from an add-on, often called water backup or sewer backup coverage, with its own limit. If you have a finished basement, ask your agent whether your limit would cover replacing it. Flood policies treat backups differently again, generally covering them only when they're caused by a flood.
Preventing the next one
- Have a plumber camera-inspect the lateral for roots, cracks and sags.
- Ask about a backwater valve, which lets sewage out but not back in. Many cities require a permit.
- Keep grease, wipes and paper towels out of drains, even "flushable" wipes.
- Disconnect downspouts or sump discharge lines that feed the sanitary sewer, if your city requires it.